Monday, June 13, 2016

After test flying the Summit XC3 and the Trango XC3, here’s the Kibo test flight in SM size .

The Kibo has a 5.7 aspect ratio and has a B rating. UP created the Kibo
for B pilots in mind and should be easier to fly than the Summit XC3.

Launching the Kibo is super easy and smooth . No shooting forward or
hanging back. Just a steady climb to rest above the pilots head.

I flew the Kibo SM (75-95) at 93 all up as i felt it is a good load on
this size. The trim speed isn’t very high, just near 38 km/h as average
for the B category.

I flew this glider in different conditions from weak ones to some
turbulent air in our Cedars Mountain range. I could quickly confirm a
very comfortable glider. The Kibo is a compact smooth easy to fly B
machine.
No matter what you throw on the Kibo, the B pilot underneath is very
well taken care after !! Or should i say the pilot under the Kibo
feels like a VIP on tour !

The handling on the Kibo is exquisite ! The glider reacts to a moderate
brake travel and pressure feel, coupled with a very nice coordinated
turn and precise inputs !
I can describe it as a “politely” agile glider :-) !

Doing some performance comparisons with the recent B+ beasts puts the
Kibo overall performance in the first half of the B category in glide
and climb.

The speed is around 10 km over trim at my loads taken at 700 ASL with a
relatively moderate pressure, and a stable glider with usable speed.

Big ears are very easy to induce, very stable, efficient, and fast on opening.

Induced frontal collapses and even some big asymmetric collapses are a
non event and it felt strangely like on an A glider …The reopening are
very fast and smooth.
I didn't feel like I’m on a 5.7 aspect ratio glider at all !
It seems that UP has done a marvelous job with the internal structure of
the Kibo ! I wished this structure was implemented on the 7:0 aspect
ratio Trango XC3 which gave me some “Kung Fu” hours in turbulence. So
the gap in comfort between the Kibo and the Trango XC3 is like a 4
category cooler ! :-)

Conclusion: This glider gives its pilot an impressive comfort zone!
Coupled with a very good handling ! Pilots upgrading on the Kibo from
any lower category will find a very friendly B machine. The overall
performance are within the B category, and will surely deliver a good
pilot, some nice XC flying days.

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GLIDE MEASUREMENTS ! NUMBERS and obsession !!! :-)

Looking at the glide numbers, is like seeing a beautiful food dish just before tasting it ....Knowing that all measurements are made in calm air(no thermals), and in those conditions we practicably "don't" fly.Thermal flying and transitions are made in moving air,and in those conditions a glider can change from its good performance on paper to less performance in real air and the opposite also.

Glider X that has a glide of 8.5 on paper, could reach the other side much higher than glider Y that have a glide of 9.0 on paper.Why? Because the ability of glider X in head wind glides and moving air is much better than glider Y in converting those bumps to lift and still moving forward ,rather than ,when hitting those lifts glider Y stops and dive loosing the glide.

Glide measurements are pure marketing ,but they still are interesting in putting some spices under the pilots nose ;-) .

Glides wingtip to wingtip in different conditions will show gliders ability much better.And that's why i do the videos.May be we should have a coefficient in efficiency rather than a poor "glide number" on paper. ;-)

BEST GLIDER

Comparisons are only to get an idea what the glider will be and feel like.Some like it soft on the brakes ,others find it too jumpy...But the best glider is the one that each individual pilot will have the most fun with.For some it could be the glider that out-climb or out-glide your club mates....But for most ,it is the one that will give you a smile and a satisfying happy feeling immediately after you land.That's the glider you must choose.So there is no best glider rather than best feeling for a glider.Fly SAFE,Ziad.